Bolt Action update

We will be doing a Bolt Action game at Battle Group North on 11th & 12th May. Here are some pics of what I have done so far. We have had a couple of test games though have yet to use any tanks or support weapons. Will plan some scenarios for the demo game.

The current state of my wargames workshop

To finish 2012 here is a quick tour of the aftermath of 2012 in my wargames HQ.

The painting desk: currently on the go are Crusader Miniatures Early War British Infanrty and various Prussian Napoleonics from Perry, all 28mm. I just bought a new batch of Vallejo paints today for my French WWII figures. The first Bolt Action games I'll be playing will be simple early war scenarios with just a couple of squads. The wheelie bin brush pot was a Birthday present from Anni.

 

Perry Prussian Landwehr (yes I know Warlord do them in plastic and yes I have them too)

 

 

 

The Warlord Ruined Hamlet:

 

In this kit you get enough parts to build three of these two storey cottages and three small one storey hovels without the roof. I put them togther with plastic glue and stuck them onto plasticard bases that I cut out from A4 sheets, bought from Monk Bar Models. I deliberately left off the chimney sections so they could be used for earlier periods too.

 

Next I used scenic pva glue and added some groundwork to the base. I then sprayed the whole thing in tank grey (no photo of that)

 

Lastly, I added some colour to the brickwork, plaster and wood areas with some drybrushing to the groundwork. All six buildings were done in less that an hour from being undercoated with the grey spray. Not a materpiece but they'll do, I'll spend the time on the figures.

Some Fallshirmjagers waiting to have bases built up with green stuff. I mostly use Redendra plastic 25mm round bases now for 28mm figures. Here we have two rifle sections, a command unit and mortar. About the minimum for a decent quick game of Bolt Action.

 

Here are some of the Crusader Miniatures late war British I'm working on. There are 4 units of rifles, 1 x command, PIAT team, small mortar and a 75mm gun with crew. Also have a unit of Lord Lovatt's Commandos by Artizan Designs.

Hope to have Bolt Action battle reports to post soon in 2013!

Last game of 2012 - Borodino

Well, 2012 was a great year for wargames. I managed to get to 10 shows, painted figures for and played some WoTR battles, played lots of DbN and am well on the way with lots of 28mm WWII for Bolt Action. I've made a good start on a Napoleonic Prussian Army for Black Powder, that maybe a long time in completion though. Also got into other types of wargames such as Wings of War, X-Wing, Zombie games and bought Memoir 44, though have yet to play it. May do that tomorrow?

The plan for 2013 is to play some Bolt Action games, give the Toy Soldier rules a refresh and maybe do a demo game or two and carry on with board wargames. If I'm going to do another period in 2013 its likely to be French Indian War in 28mm - Muskets and Tommahawks, so far I've resisted.

So, yesterday I was invited to Alex's place for a day long refight of Borodino using his own DbN rules, co written with Bob who was also there. I think there was 9 of us in all 5 commanding the French and Richie, John, Peeler and myself (as Bagration) commanding the Russians. Jordan made a rather unconvincingly young but believably capable Napoleon. The French swooped round at both flanks, leaving some very bewildered Russian guns in the central redoubt mostly redundant throughout the game. On the one side of Borodino Richie's Cossacks valiantly stunted the French with no less that suicide cavalry charges and some outstanding artillery volleys while the opposite flank was all but completely destroyed by the Westphalian, Polish and associated allies with some French Elites mixed in. Bagration (me) was left holding the village on the far side with nothing more left than a few Moscow millitia, surrounded by a massive French force of light infantry units and odd small line units that had been whittled down by Russian Grenadiers defending from the village before being wiped out. The French won on victory points after causing sufficient Russian losses and holding enough of the redoubts and villages surroundng Borodino to force a Russian withdrawl. The French still had all it's Old Guard in reserve as well as Guard Artillery, which was just begining to move at the end of the game. Borodino itself remained untouched. The game could have lasted 25 turns but was won in just 15 lasting about 7 hours.

Borodino - The Start

The Russians deploy!

Russian Grenadiers try to hold the village.

A huge thank you for an excellent day of wargames and hospitality from the Testo's!!! Merry Christmas and a happy wargames filled 2013 to all!!!

Recon Pudsey

It's been a few years since I've been to the Pudsey show. Snowed off in 2009 and 2010 and was in Sri Lanka in 2011 so this was a welcome return to a popular little show. The Yorkshire Coast Wargamers were there en-masse. In fact we were pretty much all in attendance from the core group. Alex and Peeler put on a DbN Borodino, which was quite epic! I only played a few opening moves then went for a wander round and ended up playing a few rounds of Bolt Action. I was really keen to play this game as I have recently bought the rules, have plenty of figures for it and ready to start putting games on but needed come coaching on the rules. It's great! Small units of 28mm figs, usually 10 man rifle squads or a 3 man support weapon and around six or so units per side is more than enough even for a 6x4 table. There were about six people playing in the end and one umpire, it's definately a good game to play with plenty of players. Emphasis is on pinning, which affects your ability to fight the more pinned markers you collect, killing is secondary as a very pinned unit will soon become useless, there are morale checks in the rules but they wern't used in the demo. Sadly no pictures of it but plenty of the DbN game:

This Zulu War game caught my eye, I hovered over the huge Rorkes Drift box set at the Warlord stand until some bloke behind me said.. "That's a lot of painting" and he was right, I put it back on the shelf.

Finally the purchases! I did a lot of shopping today. A number of Crusader 28mm WWII from Colonel Bill's, some bargain price Warlord figures US Para's and the new plastic Soviets. A scenery set from Warlord, the ruined hamlet buildings, which are great! Some bases and some more Bolt Action dice. Also bought a K&R carry case for my growing 28mm figures. This was my 10th and final wargames show of 2012 and I owed myself some Birthday/Christmas goodies at this last show of the year so went with a view to splash out. I didnt buy anything that wasnt to do with Bolt Action games so I was pleased I managed to stay focussed and not start any new projects.

A Very Smoggy-Con 2012

Well, they wern't kidding! I've not seen fog like that all day for a while, we drove through the murk and got there about 10:30am. It was already fairly busy and after a quick pie and peas we set up a game of Last Night on Earth, which is a very American Zombie game. I liked it, first time I had played it and you really feel like you're in a typical Zombie film, playing a particular character and taking on the zombies as they spawn from entry points on the board. I have to say I'm getting more gripped by board games and the freedom from painting figures is refreshing. Thanks to Richie for bringing it along, we had a game with Norman D and a passing kid, the kind you get at wargames shows who gets left at what ever table will have them by their anxious to get some alone time parents.

The show was in a great venue, plenty of space and two main rooms of wargaming. This meant it never got too loud or chaotic  around the tables and the atmos was really good. The games were simple and small affairs, nothing was out of the realms of possiblity to create by the average wargamer which I liked. It felt like you were in a wargamers living room or were at just one big club night and as ever our North East hosts facilitated a friendly environment.

I had a chance to have a look at Battleground Kursk, the new rules set speciffic to Eastern Front WWII as there was a demo game in 20mm. Wasn't too impressed and the sheer size of the rules made my head spin. I did take some photos but the gym part of the venue was very yellow in the lighting and photos wern't going to turn out too well.

Purchases were few, I'm saving my big Birthday/Christmas splurge for Pudsey next weekend but I did get some Last Valley scenery and a huge piece of terrain from the Middlesborough guys, which is big enough for my 54mm figures. Here it is pictured with an unpainted 28mm figure so you can see just how big it is! I'm hoping to maybe do a Toy Soldier game of Stalingrad with it next year at a show.

 

 

We came home from Middlesborough on the A170 which was a bit of a back road detour, passed a field I used to camp in that I hadn't seen in over 20 years! We were pretty hungry by then so Richie suggested we stop at his post office / tea parlour for high tea. I have to say, this was excellent! Perfect finish to a wargames show and top marks to Richie's Mum for the spread. Will definately be back for more of this! Made a change from beginning the show with a greesy spoon fry up, not that there isnt a place for those too!

 

 

Derby Show

It's been a while since we went down to Castle Donnington for the Derby 2012 Wargames show. A good show generally but a bit disturbed by the motor racing going on outside. Got a few bits for my Bolt Action collection including a couple of Warlord tanks. T34 and this Hetzer, which I had painted and finished less than 24 hours after getting it home! Also bought the rule book for the bargain price of £19.

I was hoping to get in on a demo of Bolt Action but it was a bit too busy. Took some pictures instead, which I will use for reference.

 

I liked the idea of the movement trays but the Soviet units have 12 men and the trays only allow for 10, though no problem just adding extra figures to the bulk tray alongside. I do also really like the ruined hamlet Warlord do and will probably pick one up soon.

 

Met many other chaps of good breeding from the WD3 site at Derby too. A good day out thanks to Peeler for driving and Richie for buying the Star Wars X-Wing game first so I could see if it was any good before I bought it.

Fiasco at Leeds

Good day out at Fiasco today. I recently bought the Wings of Glory WWI rules and some planes and have been having a lot of fun with it. I was pleased to see a game being put on by Hedingley Wargamers. Myself and Richie joined in a game. I learnt just how deadly rear gunners can be! Playing a French Spad I was out numbered in the end.

At the entrance to to the show was a 28mm ACW game and this battleship game, which looked pretty good though I didnt get chance to talk to the guy doing it and he had gone when we left. Seen the game at other shows too. Would be a good addition to a Wings of Glory game!

The show quietened off considerably after lunchtime and traders were packing up at £3:30pm but it was an enjoyable do. Met up with Alex and Bob and discussed plans for future games. There seems to be fewer and fewer games and traders at Fiasco, which is a shame but still it's worth a visit. The quieter afternoon was a better time to browse, chat and shop. I spent my cash pretty quick, mostly on a WoG Gotha bomber that I got from Caliver Books. Also bought a pre-made/painted winter T34 in 1/72 scale, some 20p old magazines an awesome little wargaming book from 1974 (as old as me) with some excellent pictures inside, some Italeri quick build Shermans for my 20mm German/US winter war stuff and 3 packs of Lancashie Games 20mm - Norwegians, Russians and Germans. The later purchase I now regret somewhat. It came to £42 for the figures, on closer inspection they arn't that good and looking through the lead pile I had enough figures anyway for what I wanted to do. Oh well, live and learn. It was the end of the day and I got carried away. Very pleased with the Gotha, it's a fiddle getting it in and out the box so might have to invest in a K&R multicase, they have specialist ones for WoG and had some at the show. Will order one on payday. I have some 'snow' which I'll be using on the Shermans to make them look appropriately weathered for Bastogne as illustrated on the box art.

I'm hoping to use existing painted 20mm WWII US/German figures and vehicles for a Bolt Action game. Painting all the 28mm stuff is taking some time to get through.

Good day out but as you can see, pretty quiet show once the crowds had dispersed after lunch. There was also a demo game of X-Wing the new Star Wars game based on the same mechanism as Wings of Glory, didn't get to try it as it was proving pretty popular but should be playing a game soon. Chocolate doughnuts for a quid were a welcome snack just before coming home.